Adapt-a-bowl

ABSTRACT

The Adapt-A-Bowl is a lightweight and durable device that is easily transported to various locations including but not limited to schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and homes. This ease of transport increases the access of individuals with moderate to severe disabilities who use wheelchairs and gait trainers to participate in a variety of sporting activities. The supportive legs creating the angle of descent are collapsible and fit into the upper handle, lever and ramp assembly. The upper lever and ramp assembly are designed to house a lightweight ball which is set on a lever system and activated by the handle. The lower ramp assembly finalizes the length of the ramp to send the ball down the ramp. The key advantage to this device is its portability and three-piece assembly which all fit into a carrying bag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The ADAPT-A-BOWL device is designed to be used by handicapped students of all ages anywhere in a school environment who use or rely on a wheelchair or gate trainer. The ADAPT-A-BOWL is designed as a three-piece unit so teachers can assemble and disassemble it in a matter of minutes. A lightweight ball is released by a lever handle which projects the ball down the ramp to knock down plastic bowling pins. The three-piece design helps the special education teacher to pack the unit into a storage bag and move from one school location to another.

2. Description of Prior Art

As seen with the following patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,042,482; 6,227,981 B1; 3,159,401, all of the prior art devices are intended to use for bowlers with mild to moderate physical disabilities. They do not take consider the severely disabled individual who may want to partake in bowling activities. These individuals often have greater difficulty extending their arms or legs fully to push a bowling ball down a ramp or opening their hands completely to grasp, pull, and release a handle.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,401, Mr. Ikenberry shows how a person with moderate physical disabilities must place a bowling ball on the level portion of the ramp and then push the ball to initiate its movement down the ramp, onto the bowling lane, and toward the pins. This pushing action may be quite difficult for a person with severe disabilities who does not possess the strength to control the weight of a bowling ball. The following two U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,227,981 and 6,042,482 focus on a power control release mechanism or a pull-push lever to activate a bowling ball down a ramp. Both prior art devices require a person with severe disabilities to have the physical strength and coordination to operate the device successfully. These prior art devices fail to accommodate those with severe disabilities who have a more limited range of motion. Furthermore, all of these prior art devices appear to be constructed from tubular steel that may make it difficult for individuals with severe disabilities to adjust for accuracy in rolling the bowling ball down the ramp.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the Adapt-A-Bowl is to mount a lightweight ball on the lever rack whereby a student with physical disabilities raises the handle of the lever and sends the ball down the ramp toward a set of plastic bowling pins.

Another aspect of the Adapt-A-Bowl design is its capability to be a portable unit consisting of three main parts, FIG. 2 the leg subassembly, FIG. 3 the ball and ramp subassembly, and FIG. 4 the lower ramp subassembly. When all three subassemblies are combined they form FIG. 1, a complete Adapt-A-Bowl assembly ready to be used by an individual with moderate to severe physical disabilities. The Adapt-A-Bowl device is disassembled into the three subassemblies and is packed into a storage bag so that it can be easily transported from one school location to another.

The Adapt-A-Bowl is a lightweight and durable unit that is easily transported to various locations including but not limited to schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and homes. This ease of transport increases the access of individuals with severe disabilities who use wheelchairs and gait trainers to participate in a variety of sporting activities. It is preferred that this device be used with individuals who have difficulty manipulating their arms, hands, legs or other extremities similarly to their peers so that they can enjoyably participate in various sports alongside their peers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The title page of the Adapt-A-Bowl shows a perspective view of the device demonstrating how a lightweight ball is placed on the lever handle and ready to be sent down the ramp.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable bowling ramp construction that forms the basis of the present device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the leg and brace subassembly that shows the elevation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle, lever and ramp subassembly that inserts to the leg and brace subassembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower ramp subassembly that inserts to the handle, lever and ramp subassembly, thus rendering the device completely assembled for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 represents the three subassemblies, FIG. 2 the leg and brace assembly, FIG. 3 the handle, lever, and ramp assembly, and FIG. 4 the lower ramp assembly, all of which are the subassemblies that make up the Adapt-A-Bowl portable rolling device. The lightweight construction of the Adapt-A-Bowl is made possible due to the use of ⅜″-1″ inside diameter (i.d.) PVC which is the main material for construction.

FIG. 2 consists of the leg portion 1 which has rubber tips 2 to help stabilize the leg assembly. A horizontal brace 3 has a protective insert 3A to hold together both legs 1. The legs 1 and the brace 3 are joined together with a bolt 4 going through both the legs 1 and brace 3 with a machine nut 5.

FIG. 3 consists of the ramp 4 held in place by the ramp brace 5 with joining dowel inserts 11. The ramp 4 also consists of the tee 7 with coupler to hold together the upper portion of the ramp 4. At the top of the tee 7 the 90° angle and insert 8 complete this length of FIG. 3 ramp assembly. The lever 6 and the handle 10 are held in place by a threaded rod 9 with machine nuts 9A thus completing the ball retaining device.

FIG. 4 consists of the lower ramp assembly 12 with protective cap inserts 12A. The ramp 12 is held together by the ramp brace 13 with protective cap inserts 13A located at the bottom and top of the assembly.

Varying measurements of inside diameter PVC are used to complete the device. FIG. 2 consists of the leg portion 1 and horizontal brace 3 made with ¾″ inside diameter (i.d.) PVC. FIG. 3 consists of the ramp 4 and the ramp brace 5 made with ¾″ i.d. PVC and the lever 6 made with ½″ and ¾″ i.d. PVC. The dowel inserts 11 are made with ½″ i.d. PVC. FIG. 4 consists of the lower ramp assembly 12 and ramp brace 13 made with ¾″ i.d. PVC.

Although the preferred range of inside diameter PVC for this device is within ½″-¾″, similar devices can successfully be constructed using the following i.d. PVC ranges: a) ⅜″-½″ and, b) ¾″-1″. In the previous description of inside diameter PVC where ½″ i.d. PVC is noted, one would substitute ⅜″ i.d. PVC for range A and ¾″ i.d. PVC for range B. Similarly, where ¾″ is noted in the previous description of i.d. PVC, one would substitute ½″ i.d. PVC for range A and 1″ i.d. PVC for range B. 

1. A portable ramp device for assisting individuals with moderate to severe disabilities in participating in a variety of sporting activities in any location, said device comprising: a. a three-part subassembly constructed of ⅜″-1″ inside diameter PVC which is a lightweight, durable material; b. a leg assembly collapsible into three pieces; c. a handle and lever assembly constructed and braced for strength so that a lightweight ball may be set on top of the lever and propelled down the ramp with minimal effort; and d. a lower ramp assembly constructed with braces to ensure its strength and complete the length of the ramp that the ball may travel to hit its target.
 2. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the three part subassembly is constructed of ⅜″ inside diameter PVC.
 3. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the three part subassembly is constructed of ½″ inside diameter PVC.
 4. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the three part subassembly is constructed of ¾″ inside diameter PVC.
 5. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the three part subassembly is constructed of 1″ inside diameter PVC.
 6. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a set of plastic or rubber bowling pins.
 7. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the leg assembly is collapsible into three pieces so that it may fit into a carrying bag and be quickly assembled or disassembled.
 8. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the lightweight ball has the appearance of a bowling ball.
 9. The ramp device of claim 1, wherein the three part subassembly is constructed of a lightweight, durable material that facilitates easy transportation to a variety of locations using a carrying bag. 